The Mix with Sherry Lucas: April 18-24

The Sal & Mookie’s Children’s Carnival is Saturday at the resturant on Taylor Street.

By Sherry Lucas

Oh, to be a kid again!

I don’t have any of my own, but if I did, this would be the weekend to plug them into some fun, from Spring Days at the Ag Museum to Sal & Mookie’s Children’s Carnival to Earth Day at the Jackson Zoo and KidFest! Ridgeland.

Grownups have plenty to do on the sunny side of the street, too. If you’re itching for some outdoor action, Third Thursday’s Screen on the Green, Garden Club of Jackson tours, Fondren Flea, Broadmeadow Crawfish Boil, Belhaven Grilled Cheese Fest and the Township Jazz Festival are great bets.

Depending on your personal level of spring fever, any chance you could fit in all of the above? And all the indoors goodies, too?!

“Shakespeare in Love” at New Stage Theatre, is a romantic comedy about the young bard tackling writer’s block, romance and the passionate acting ambitions of the young lovely he’s just met, with all the playful Elizabethan drama and fun of the Oscar-winning film upon which it’s based. The ensemble cast is packed with New Stage favorites. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through April 29. For tickets, $30 adults/$25 seniors and students, visit the box office or newstagetheatre.com or call 601-948-3531. Want to make it extra-special? Time your enjoyment for Tuesday’s Happy Birthday Will! celebration at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday for a celebration in true Elizabethan style marking Shakespeare’s 454th birthday.

“Shakespeare in Love” is now showing at New Stage Theatre. Image: James Patterson

Join a panel discussion for Robert Crowell’s “Timeless” exhibition, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Arts Center of Mississippi, to learn more about the witty, elemental and intriguing sculptures of this Jackson artist, now on display at the Arts Center of Mississippi and in the Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Crowell, exhibition curator Jerrod Partridge, Ellen Ann Fentress and John Hooks are on the panel.

A panel discussion for sculptor Robert Crowell’s “Timeless” exhibition is Wednesday night at the Arts Center of Mississippi. Image: Ashleigh Coleman

Pub Quiz, 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fenian’s is triple the fun with the best trio of quiz hosts in town.

Sip. The Popup Tea Room Part Deux, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Flamingo, brings the afternoon/evening tea experience back to Fondren with unlimited cups of a selection of four loose-leaf teas. Plus, there’s the introduction of Tipsy Tea, in case you have a hankering for after-five libations. Find tickets on eventbrite.com.

Delve deeper into the “Now: The Call and Look of Freedom” exhibit at the Tougaloo College Art Gallery, Bennie G. Thompson Academic & Civil Rights Research Center, 2 p.m. Wednesday as art professor Phoenix Savage leads an interactive activity, “Who Has the Right to Look?: Subjectivity and the Gaze.” On Thursday, 3:30 p.m., museum interns of the Art and Civil Rights Initiative guide an interactive discussion of the works on view.

Museum After Hours at the Mississippi Museum of Art trots out its engaging mix of activities, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. That cool mix includes: pop-up exhibit of photos by Christina McField and Rory Doyle and Envision Mississippi art contest winners, 5:30 p.m.-until; concert by The Agape Christian Fellowship Choir, 6 p.m.; ReFrame “This Land is My Land,” an exploration of the complexities of Southern farmland with Mike Espy, former congressman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and Foot Print Farms’ Cindy Ayers, with a tasting by Chef Nick Wallace in the galleries of “White Gold” at 6 p.m.; the outdoor movie “The Straight Story,” directed by David Lynch and starring Richard Farnsworth at 8 p.m. La Brioche at the museum will be open late, and Crunch Time food truck and Carm’s Sweets will be onsite, plus there’s a cash bar. The event’s free.

Rory Doyles’ “Delta Cowboys” is among works in the pop-up show at Third Thursday at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Image: Rory Doyle

Take your dog out for a stroll, 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Paws on the Patio, hosted by 1908 Provisions at The Fairview. Bring your pooch on a leash, enjoy cocktails and live music, plus snacks, and a raffle raising funds for ARF.

The Spring Spectacular Concert, 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center, spotlights the show choirs as they perform their 2018 competition shows for the last time and debut five new pieces. Admission is $10 admission at the door.

Spring Farm Days 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum is a bright and bloomin’ time to check out Small Town Mississippi at the attraction, enjoy cooking demos, learn about farmstead life and gardening and see the big farm and forestry equipment on display. Plus, baby chicks! It’s $6 adults, $4 kids 3-18.

Nashville country and rock singer/songwriter Nikki Lane brings her potent lyrics and country-pop swagger to Duling Hall Thursday for an 8 p.m. show, with Ida Mae in support. It’s $15 advance (ardenland.net), $20 at the door.

Nikki Lane performs Thursday night at Duling Hall. Image: ardenland

Singer/songwriter Brian Jones is the lead singer of Lillian Axe, but he’s also an acoustic performer; hear him solo Thursday, 6:30 p.m., at Hal & Mal’s.

Drag Bingo, 7:30-9 p.m. Thursday at Wonderlust, 3911 Northside Dr., is hosted by HRC and special co-hosts London Dumore and Ke’Charra. Find tickets at act.hrc.org.

Is spring really here this time? Convince yourself with the Garden Club of Jackson’s 2018 Spring Garden Tour, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, rain or shine. It’s a chance to tour four gardens and three homes in the Eastover neighborhood. Tour tickets are $20 and can begin at any of the four gardens: 4110 Sandridge Drive; 4155 Dogwood Drive; 2377 Twin Lakes Circle; or 2566 Lake Circle (garden only and site for lunch by reservation and the Secret Garden Gift Shop). Reserved lunch tickets, $15 for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day are $15 each. There’s also a Thursday evening garden party, reserved tickets $50. Advance tickets are required for the evening party, the lunch and the group rate; visit gardenclubofjackson for more details. The Garden Tours benefit the garden and grounds of the Lowry House.

The Garden Club of Jackson’s Spring Garden Tour is Friday and Saturday. Image: Garden Club of Jackson

United States Senator John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after decades of political services in Louisiana. During a Millsaps Forum this Friday at 1 pm, Senator Kennedy will reflect on his breadth of political experience including on the current climate in Washington and the state of the U.S. Judiciary. This event takes place in the Gertrude C. Ford Academic Complex Recital Hall and is free and open to the public.

Friday night at Hal & Mal’s, Barry Leach has guitar, will play and how. The master guitarist offers a sterling, eclectic blend of many styles and genres that never fails to entertain, engage and impress. It’s 7-10 p.m., free in the dining room.

The Young Valley album release party is Friday night at Duling Hall. Image: ardenland

Springboard for Opportunities’ 5K Run for Our Community, 9 a.m. Saturday at Dawson Elementary School (registration at 8 a.m.) is the fourth annual event, raising seed money to create Children’s Savings Account for Springboard community youth. The finish line is at Lincoln Gardens Apartments, where the run finishes in a community block party. Register for the run at classy.org.

The Fondren Flea, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, is back by popular and bargain demand, with area residents arranging yard and block sales, churches and community groups hosting group fundraisers and merchants involved in tent sales, inventory clean-out and more. Fondren Presbyterian Church will host a big sale as will Meadowbrook Church of Christ as part of the event.

The Broadmeadow Neighborhood Association Clean-up and Crawfish Boil on Saturday combines a Neighborhood Spring Clean Up Day that coincides with an Earth Day celebration, 9 a.m. to noon, along with neighbors and AmeriCorps volunteers, starting at the Broadmeadow Church pavilion. At 1 p.m., reward those efforts with a Crawfish Boil at 4528 Normandy Drive — all you can eat for $10, with a refillable cup for the beer truck onsite, also $10.

The annual Sal & Mookie’s Children’s Carnival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday promises all sorts of delicious fun, with jump zones, games and prizes, eating contests and more. Because of construction, this year’s carnival will be held in the restaurant’s parking lot, along with neighboring TC’s Uniforms, who’ll double the fun with a grand opening for their new school uniform store. Park in the University of Mississippi Medical Center lot in front of the stadium. Festival entrance is $1 per child, $2 per adult and a $10 cap for each family. Eating contests have a separate entry fee. Festival proceeds go to Friends of Children’s Hospital, and donations are welcome.

The Jackson Zoo celebrates Earth Day Saturday with animal encounters, games, activities and demos, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., including McGruff the Crime Dog, “Hippos Downtown” author and entertainer Tiffany Coleman and much more. It’s included in regular admission.

KidFest! Ridgeland Saturday and Sunday wraps up the weekend with all sorts of kid-centric fun, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday at Freedom Ridge Park. Among the highlights are Zoppé, An Italian Family Circus, Skin & Bones Comedy Circus, Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy, a walk-thru reptile zoo and much more. Find a schedule for the fun at kidsfestridgeland.com. Admission is $12/guest (get a discount coupon link here). Children younger than 2 are admitted free. KidFest! closes at 6:30 p.m. each day. The weather caused Sunday’s events to be canceled.

Among the highlights are Zoppé, An Italian Family Circus. Image: Ridgeland Rec and Parks

Record Store Day 2018, 10 a.m. Saturday at Offbeat, is an opportunity to get your hands on that limited reissue and more. Plus, there’s 20 percent off pre-loved vinyl and guest DJs sharing the music. Also Saturday, 10 am. to 7 p.m. at Offbeat, check out the Axiom Coloring Book Series release by RansburgArt; you can pre-order on eventbrite.com .

Enjoy Chaco Earth Day, 11 a.m. Saturday at Buffalo Peak Outfitters, with free tasty tacos from Jaco’s Tacos, and live music. Also, check out the summer collection of Chacos for your next adventure.

Can’t beat this vibe! The 11th annual Township Jazz Festival, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in Ridgeland, rain or shine, will blow a blast of cool straight through your weekend with some of the best listening music around. Check out this stellar lineup: The Benny Golson Quartet, Russell Welch Hot Quartet with special guest Aurora Nealand, Astral Project, the Vamps, Southern Komfort, Jackson State University Jazz Ensemble, Southern Miss Jazztet and the Ridgeland High School Jazz Band. there will be food, beverages and covered seating. So load up the lawn chairs and blankets, sit back and soak it all in. It’s free! No coolers, please. Find the schedule and more at townshipjazzfestival.com.

Southern Komfort Brass Band.

Lucky Town Brewing Company covers your Saturday from new sips to pro wrestling moves! From 1-6 p.m., check out the release of Stranger in the Alps — White Russian Imperial Stout. Stick around for the Hard Knocks Revolution II, 7-10 p.m. Saturday, and its live pro wrestling, with The Left Hand Path, the debut of The Alpha Elite and more. Tickets for the wrestling event are $10 on eventbrite.com .

Country music band and Americana Music Award nominee The Lone Bellow, whose first two albums graced the Billboard 200 and whose harmonies, musicianship and raucous live shows have earned a rabid fan base, includes a Jackson stop on their spring tour, 8 p.m. Saturday. Devon Gilfillian opens. It’s $20 advance (ardenland.net) and $25 day of show.

Concert in the Chapel, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Tougaloo Chapel’s Woodworth College, takes full advantage of the venue’s rich acoustics for the closing concert of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Series and an evening of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Princeton University’s Donnacha Dennehy. Tickets are $19 at msorchestra.com and 601-960-1565.

The Roguish Gent LIVE at The Flamingo, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday welcomes the first live event for The Roguish Gent Podcast, a free event that includes segments, giveaways and special guests.

Cheesy, crispy, melty, gooey, tasty fun awaits Sundayrescheduled for April 28, 2-8 p.m. at the Belhaven Grilled Cheese Fest at Laurel Park, where a grilled cheese cook-off competition awaits. Up for grabs at the grill are a year’s worth of bragging rights as neighborhood teams vie for the best grilled cheese. It’s free; chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome, and there will be live music sponsored by the Belhaven Improvement Association.

Relax and savor the last bits of the weekend with Sunday Nite Slow Jams, 6-9 p.m. Sunday at The Flamingo, with DJ Young Venom on the vinyl. It’s a $5 cover.

The annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, presented by First Commercial Bank and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Monday at Annandale Golf Club has players teeing off with sports legends, college administrators and former professional athletes, all to benefit the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. It’s $260 for individual players; sponsorships are also available. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Monday, with a shotgun start at 11 a.m., boxed lunch on the course and a heavy hors d’oeuvre reception following play. Find all the details at msfame.com.

Sherry Lucas, a features writer in Jackson for the last 34 years, is here on Wednesdays with “The Mix,” highlighting a sampling of creativity and culture from across the metro area. For additional events, see our online events calendar here. Reach Sherry at sherry@finditinfondren.com.